Tanning apparatus



(No Model.) 3Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. SIMPSON.

TANNING APPARATUS.

No. 332,451. Patented Dec. 15, 1885.-

N. PETERE h m'lllhogmphlsr. Washinglan. D, C.

(No Model.)

L. SIMPSON.

TANNING APPARATUS. No. 332,451. Patented Dec. 15, 1885.

N. PETERS. Pnamuxhu m hur, wnhm ten. DAG

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

SIMPSON. TANNING APPARATUS.

N 82,451. Patented Dec. 15, 1885.

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ilNrren STATES PATENT @rrrca.

LENOX SIMPSON, OF BELLEVUE, ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

TANNING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.332,4-l, dated December 15, 1885.

Application filed July 18, 1885. Serial No. 171,952. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LENOX SIMPsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bellevue borough, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tanning Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a tanning apparatus by the use of which the tannic acid may be compressed into the hide and the spent liquor evacuated from the hide in rapid alternation.

The invention consists in the apparatus hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the tanning-vat and elevations of the supply-tank and leach; Fig. 2, a longitudinal transverse section of the tanning-vat and top plan views of the supplytank and leach; Fig. 3, an end elevation of the vat, showing the apparatus for lifting and counterbalancing the hide-frame.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

A is a tanningvat of any suitable shape, size, and material, the only indispensable requisites being that the vat shall not be affected by the tannic acid, and shall be airtight and of sufficient strength to resist external and internal pressure. A lid, a, is bolted on and forms an air-tight joint with the top of the vat. From one end of the vat and a little above midway of same extends a pipe,B,which connects the interior of the vat with the supplytank I). A cock, I), is used to regulate the flow of the liquor fromthe supply-tank to the vat.

G is a vent-pipe connecting the tanning-vat A with the leach D; Said pipe is provided with a cock, 0, by means of which egress from the vatis cut off when occasion requires. Pipes e 6 connect the interior of the vat A with the exhaustpump E and force-pump E, and are provided with cocks. In the interior of the the hides may be lifted entirely above the liquor.

The hide-frame maybe constructed of metal or wood. The hides may be strung vertically upon hooks secured to the frame; or they may be fastened to quadrilateral frames, and the latter slipped into and secured in vertical grooves g, formed in the hide-frame. Across the middle of the top of the hide-frame is secured a beam, H, to which is fastened a rod, J, which extends upwardly through the stuffing-box in the top of the vat, and is connected with a rope or chain, K. Said rope or chain is secured to a drum, L, which is actuated by the countershaft Z. About and secured to said drum is a rope, which carries a counterweight, M, balancing the weight of the hide frame and hides.

I do not wish to confine myself to the particular device shown and described for recip rocating the hide-frame, as this may be ac co mplished in a variety of ways. For instance, the vats could be made to work in pairs, the rods J being coupled to the ends of awalkingbeam and the latter being driven by an engine.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The hides are secured to the hide-frame in the manner described, and the man-hole tightly closed. Sufficient tannic liquor is then allowed to enter the vat A from the supply-tank to about half till said vat. The cocks in thepipes B O are then closed and the force-pump operated. Pneumatic pressure is thus brought to bear upon the surface of the liquor, and the latter thereby forced into the pores of the hide. After sufficient time has elapsed to allow the liquor to permeate the hides, (never more than a few minutes) the hide-frame (by means of the mechanism described) is elevated abovethesurfa cc of the liquor and the exhaustpump operated. By this means substantially all the pressure upon the surface of the hides is removed, and the elasticity of the hide, as well as the greater or less amount of air contained therein, causes it to swell and open its pores. The spent liquor contained in said pores is forced out by said swelling, as well as by its own specific gravity. After sufficient time. has elapsed to allow the spent acid to escape (two or three minutes, or less) the.

hide-frame is lowered into the liquor, and the operation repeated until the hides are completely tanned. At intervals during the continuance of the operation fresh liquor is allowed to run into the vat from the supply-tank, and portions of the weakened liquor are passed outward through the eduction-pipe into the leach. The supply of liquor within the supply-tank is strengthened from time to time from the beginning to the end of the operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I c1airn is 1. The co1nbination,with a tanning-vat provided with a verticallyreciprocating hideframe, of one ormore rods, J working through stuffing-boxes j, and means for operating said rod or'rods, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. The combination,with atanning-vat pro- Witnesses:

W. D. THOMAS, THOMAS P. SIMPSON. 

